Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts

"The name of Winthrop, that of the Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Company at their emigration to New England, may be traced back in various spelhngs for at least six centuries and a half. The family can be traced to various places in the mother country, and latterly there to Groton in Suffolk, 'where they lived many years.'"

"John Winthrop, governor of Massachusetts, son of Adam, born in Edwardston, a little village in Suffolk county, England, immediately adjoining Groton, January 12, 1587, died in Boston, New England, March 26, 1649, nineteen years after his embarkation on March 22. 1629-30, in that harbor "

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"(11) Jeremiah Belcher, son of Jeremiah Belcher (i), by first wife, born in Ipswich, June, 1641, died in that part of Chelsea now Revere, February 6, 1722-3. aged eighty-one years six month.s. In 1674 he was one of the smaller taxpayers of Rumney Marsh, and in 1702 he paid the highest tax there. He first went to Rumney Marsh as tenant on the Governor Bellingham farm, later purchased the property, and later in life conveyed the property to his sons, who divided it among themselves. The original lease of the Bellingham farm was written in the governor's own hand, and that instrument, as well as the deed conveying the farm to Mr. Belcher, was one of the most valued of the many relics and heirlooms of the late Warren Belcher, of Winthrop."

"(IV) Jonathan Belcher, son of Ensign Jo- seph and Hannah (Bill) Belcher, born in Chelsea, February 27, 171 7-8, died there October 17. 1785. He is mentioned in Shurtleff's 'Description of Boston' as one of the residents at Point Shirley in 1750, at which time he had a wife and four children."

"(V) Joseph Belcher, son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Tuttle) Belcher, born May 10, 1751, lived at Pullin Point, now is the town of Winthrop. He was a soldier of the revolution and his name is mentioned in the town records among the Chelsea men drafted for service. The published rolls show the names of many Belchers, and among them at least a dozen who bore the baptismal name of Joseph."

"(VII) Warren Belcher, son of Joseph, Jr., and Nancy (Burrill) Belcher, born in Win- throp. June 3, 1825, died there March 17, 1907, aged nearly eighty-two years. He was educated in the Chelsea public schools, and in 1839 graduated from the old Lyman school in East Boston, .After leaving school he was employed as clerk in the store of William Thomas, State street. Boston, remained there several years and then began business on his own account in East Boston, dealing in coal and wood. In 1851 he returned to Winthrop and was a contractor and builder until his appointment as postmaster. For more than half a century he was a conspicuous figure in the life of his native town, a man of upright character in every respect and whose influence was always for the welfare of the town and the people and not for the promotion of selfish ends. In 1853, during the administration of President Franklin Pierce, he was appointed postmaster of Winthrop and was reappointed either as postmaster or chief clerk (after Winthrop became a sub-station of Boston, 1875) under each succeeding administration to that of President Roosevelt, when he resigned the office. May 28, 1906, having performed its duties faithfully and conscientiously for fifty-three years, a record of incumbency rarely equalled in our national history. When he assumed the postmaster ship in 1853 the town of Winthrop contained a population of perhaps five or six hundred inhabitants, and when he laid aside the cares of office in 1906 the inhabitants numbered fully six thousand, and had become a flourishing municipality within the metropolitan district of Greater Boston. Even at an earlier date, when Winthrop was incorporated and organized as a town, Mr, Belcher was elected its first town clerk and held that office thirty-six years. For twenty-five years he was a member of the school committee of Winthrop."

"(III) David Belcher, son of Warren and (Harding) Belcher, was born in Winthrop, June 16, 1866. He received his education public schools of that town, and in one capacity and another has been actively identified with its best interests and institutions for many years. For fifteen years previous to the death of his father he was connected with the postoffice of Winthrop, doing much of its clerical and other work, and upon the resigna- tion of his father succeeded to the office he has filled so long and so well."

"(VI) Samuel Belcher, a son of Joseph and Rachel (Shute) Belcher, was born in Winthrop September 24, 1790, in what is traditionally known as the "Parliament house," but why so called is not quite clear unless that designation was given the old homestead place which Governor Bellingham first leased and afterward sold to Jeremiah Belcher, son of Jeremy of Ipswich, the immigrant."

"(VII) Frederick W, Belcher, son of Samuel and Mary (Whiting) Belcher, was born in Wimlirop, on the old family homestead, at ten o'clock p.m.. night of December 31, 1828, but he has always reckoned the date from January 1, following. He has led a quiet farm life, devoting himself induslriously to the cultivation of his lands, which he made fertile by practical husbandry, hence productive to a degree that had enabled him to accumulate a comfortable fortune and lately to lay aside hard work and spend his remaining years in contentment Many years ago, in connection with his farming pursuits, Mr. Belcher got together a herd of good dairy cows and established a profitable milk business in Boston. His stock always was kept in excellent condition and therefore produced well; and as his milk product was known to be of superior quality he never was at loss regarding its ready sale in the city."

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"John Tewksbury, of Pullen Point, son of Henry and Hannah Tewksbury. was born in Newbury, March 26, 1707, died in Chelsea in 1752. He was progenitor of a remarkable family in the history of the region in which the later years of his life were spent and he himself also was a remarkable man, although he did not live to take part in the events which distinguished the lives of his sons. The name of his wife does not appear, nor have we record of his children except sons, Andrew, John and James, whose descendants now number more than one hundred persons in the town of Winthrop alone, and of these more than fifty bear the name of Tewksbury."

"(IV) John Tewksbury, son of John Tewksbury. of Pulln Point, was born probably in 1735. and died in Chelsea, March 11, 1816, aged eighty-one years. He was living at Shirley Point with his father in 1750; was baptized and owned the covenant in 1766: served as one of the committee on the Bellingham will in 1770, stood guard at the Point for thirty days in 1775."

" (IV) James Tewksbury, son of John Tewksbury, of Pullen Point, was born in 1744, baptized and joined the church in 1769, married in 1770, stood guard with his brother at Pullen Point in 1775. and died November 7, 1800, aged fifty-six years. He married, August 16. 1770, Mary, daughter of John and Susanna Sargeant. His Winthrop descendants number thirty-one persons and are represented in the family names, Tewksbury, Ingalls, Richardson, Eldridge, Tucker, Durham, Greeley, San ford, Shattuck, Griffin, Whittemore and Cobb."

"(IV) Andrew Tewksbury, son of John Tewksbury, of Pullen Point, was born in 1739 and died in 1814, aged seventy-five years. He was at Point Shirley with his father in 1750, was admitted to church communion in 1658, stood guard for thirty days with Captain Sprague's company of Chelsea men in July, 1775, and by principal occupation was a farmer. "

"(VI) John W. Tewksbury. son of Andrew Jr. and Polly (Williams) Tewksburv, was born in Chelsea, September 9. 1797, and for many years was one of the most energetic and progressive business men of the town. After the death of his wife's father, Samuel Sturgis, in company with Samuel Leeds, of South Boston, he became joint owner of the Point Shirley Salt Works, which Mr. Sturgis had founded soon after 1812, and as partners they operated the works about five years. Then Mr. Tewksbury became sole proprietor and carried on the business until 1845, when he sold the plant and a portion of the land to the Revere Copper Company."

"(VII) Charles S. Tewksbury, son of John W. and Abigail (Sturgis) Tewksbury. was born on his father's home farm in Chelsea, May 14, 1824, died in that town July 12, 1875. In 1860, when his father retired from active pursuits, Charles S. took a lease of the farm on 'the neck.' brought it to a condition of high fertility and for the next fifteen years gathered from its acres an annual crop of market products that yielded a gratifying revenue to the proprietor. In the meantime the natural beauties of the locality had begun to attract the attention of the annual colony of summer visitors, and quick to see the advantages of such an acquisition, with the co-operation of his son. Ensign Kimball, Mr. Tewksbury caused his farm lands to be subdivided and laid out into lots for summer cottages, with all the desirable appointments of streets and avenues; and now, after the lapse of hardly more than a score of years the old farm site has become the very center of the most attractive part of Winthrop Beach."

"(VIII) Ensign Kimball Tewksbury, son and only surviving child of Charles S. and Armenia (Parker) Tewksbury, was born in the then town of Chelsea, near where now stands his own pleasant house, March 27, 1852. His life has been spent in the town, there he was educated in the public schools, and he received an excellent business training by having early associated himself with the several enterprises in which his father was interested and in which he too had an interest. For himself, however, he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner and having become a practical workman he soon became a building contractor."

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"(I) Captain John Floyd, progenitor of the family here considered, lived in Lynn, Massachusetts, where the births of five of his childdren are recorded."|

"(II) Ensign Hugh Floyd, son of Captain John and Sarah (Doolittle) Flovd, born in Lynn, Massachusetts, September 10, 1663, died in Chelsea, November 17, 1730. He was a yeoman, and with his mother administered his father's estate. He inherited lands from his father and acquired other tracts by purchase and in time possessed a large property. He and his wife were members of the Malden church, and in 1724 took letters to the church in Rumney Marsh."

"(III) Hugh Floyd, son of Ensign Hugh and Eleanor Floyd, born May 13, 1704, died in September, 1789. He was a farmer, and acquired several considerable tracts of land."

"(IV) Hugh Floyd, Jr., son of Hugh and Mary (Baker) Floyd, born in Chelsea, 2d 2d mo. 1732, died there August 6, 1800. He was a farmer, and in 1798 lived on the so-called Cogan farm in Chelsea. He was a soldier of the revolution and in May, 1781, was voted bounty by the town to enter the Continental army under General Washington."

"(V) David Floyd, son of Hugh and Rachel Floyd, born in Chelsea, June 7, 1767, died in Winthrop, Massachusetts, August 1, 1842. He was a farmer by principal occupation, an active and energetic man in whatever he undertook. In 1825 he removed to Winthrop and afterward lived in that town. In both towns he took a prominent part in the public affairs." "(VI) Deacon David Floyd, eldest son of David and Hannah (Tewksbury) Floyd, was born in Revere, 1808. He was reared to young manhood in the section now known as Winthrop. and then became a successful farmer and large land owner, having secured possession of that valuable property known as Winthrop Highlands which at the present time (1908) is mostly covered with beautiful and substantial houses. His foresight was not only marked by this particular possession, but by others as well in that beautiful seabound town of Winthrop. In 1852, when the town was set off from Revere and the organization was effected, he took an active interest in its organization, at once becoming prominently identified with its official life, having been elected one of the first selectmen and serving on this board for manv vears. When on May 14, 1905, Deacon Floyd died, there were many who felt his loss in the town, church and the community in general, as 'Uncle Floyd' was a man who had no enemies and his friends were legion."

"(VII) Benjamin Tappan Floyd, son of Deacon David and Sallie (Tewksbury) Floyd, was born in Winthrop. He was for many years a successful market gardener of Winthrop, and a man in whom every person who knew him held in highest respect, and who is still closely allied with the interests of the place as one of its representative citizens, having in later life been engaged in contract work for the town and state."

" (VIII) Nelson Floyd, son of Benjamin Tappan and Adaline (Pierce) Floyd, was born on the old homestead in Winthrop, November 24, 1866." (VI) Thomas Floyd, fifth son of David (5) and Hannah (Tewskbury") Floyd, was born in Revere and later moved on what was then known as Floyd's Hill, the farm being a part of what has became the government barracks and known as Fort Banks. This property was known as the old David Floyd estate, and was marked for its beauty of location and marine scenery, also the scene of many of the births of this large and interesting family."

"(VII) Thomas Floyd, youngest son of Thomas and Hannah B. (Sturgis) Floyd, was born in Winthrop, November 3, 1838. His early life was spent in Winthrop, and his education was that acquired in the public schools."

"(VI) Edward Floyd, son of David and Hannah (Tewksbury) Floyd, born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, 1809, died in Winthrop. He was about sixteen years when his father removed from Chelsea to Winthrop, and in after years he became one of the leading men of the town, filling with credit a number of offices of local importance and throughout his life enjoying the respect of all of his fellow townsmen."

"(VII) David Floyd, son of Edward and Lucretia (Tewksbury) Floyd, was born in Winthrop, Massachusetts, and for more than forty years has been closely identified with the civil and business life of his native town, and since 1889 has been senior member of the firm of Floyd & Tucker, real estate dealers in Boston and Winthrop. A native of Winthrop, educated in the public schools there and widely acquainted throughout the town, he naturally has always taken an active and earnest interest in whatever might tend to promote the public welfare, and indeed it may be said that in all measures proposed for the promotion of local interests and institutions he generally has been one of the leading spirits in each enterprise and a valuable factor in accomplishing the desired result."

"(VII) Sumner Floyd, son of Philip Payson Floyd (6), was born in Winthrop, November 14, 1845. He received such education as was afforded by the public schools, and from the time he attained manhood his association has been continued with his native town, and his interest in the welfare of the community has never waned. His occupation is that of undertaker and embalmer."

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